Britain pledges new funding to contain Ebola

A banner encouraging people suffering from Ebola to go immediately to a health center for treatment is seen on a sidewalk in the city of Freetown, Sierra Leone, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2014. While the Ebola virus outbreak has now reached four countries, Liberia and Sierra Leone account for more than 60

The Associated Press

A banner encouraging people suffering from Ebola to go immediately to a health center for treatment is seen on a sidewalk in the city of Freetown, Sierra Leone, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2014. While the Ebola virus outbreak has now reached four countries, Liberia and Sierra Leone account for more than 60 percent of the deaths, according to the World Health Organization. The outbreak that emerged in March has claimed at least 932 lives. (AP Photo/Michael Duff)

A banner encouraging people suffering from Ebola to go immediately to a health center for treatment is seen on a sidewalk in the city of Freetown, Sierra Leone, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2014. While the Ebola virus outbreak has now reached four countries, Liberia and Sierra Leone account for more than 60 percent of the deaths, according to the World Health Organization. The outbreak that emerged in March has claimed at least 932 lives. (AP Photo/Michael Duff) (The Associated Press)

Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — Britain has announced 3 million pounds (US$5 million) in new funding to help contain the spread of Ebola in West Africa.

International Development Secretary Justine Greening says Britain will provide 1.25 million pounds to help the governments of Sierra Leone and Liberia boost their national health systems, and 1 million pounds to a group of non-profit organizations so they can expand the monitoring and tracing of new cases.

The rest of the funds will go toward supporting communities affected by the virus and specialist clinical care.

The financing announced Thursday will be released to organizations, including the World Health Organization.

The deadly outbreak of Ebola in West Africa was first seen in Guinea and has spread to Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria, killing almost 1,000 people since March.